Something nice from London
By Silence Charumbira
Showbiz Editor
Writer Petina Gappah’s short story,…has been turned into a film titled Something nice from London that is set to be premiered in the United Kingdom soon.
The film which features actors like Rumbidzai Karize, Tonderai Munyebvu has combined efforts by Yeukai Ndarimani and Joe Njagu the directors, producer Rufaro Kaseke, production designer Josh Changa, production manager Leonard Matsa and Taurai Kawara on sound.
Munyaradzi Chidzonga’s Ivory Pictures has been tasked with distribution of the film.
Publicist Batsirai Masvinge said the film was set in Harare, Norwich and London “bringing together a world acclaimed fascinating story of Culture, Immigration and Family Conflict in modern day Africa”.
“The film is set for a special summer release in London followed by a Zimbabwean premiere at the 2016 Zimbabwean Film Festival in October and an international film festival run at major African, European and American festivals. The production will also enjoy other ancillary markets such as DVD, Television and Pay per View with the objective of telling the story to millions of people across the globe,” Masvinge said.
He said with millions of Africans living in the Diaspora due to various push factors, the story resonates with many people who have lost their loved ones overseas and those in the diaspora who at some point have had to repatriate the bodies back home.
“Of interest is how the film manages to touch on the popular cultural aspects of burying the dead in the rural area against the ever growing culture of urban burials, a clash which was brilliantly portrayed by veteran actor Lovewell Chisango,” he said.
The film depicts a tense situation at the Chikwiro family that is waiting for the body of their deceased son Peter (played by Munyebvu) from London.
As relatives sing, dance and help themselves to provisions, Mary Chikwiro played by Karize tries to keep it all together while grieving the loss of her brother challenging the family traditions.
“Meanwhile her cousin in London, Lisa (Lauren Marshal) struggling to find the cash to send Peter home, is forced to make a desperate choice of prostitution in order to raise money to send back the body,” Masvinge said.
“The film follows two remarkable women in a clash of the old and the new. As Mary struggles in the face of a dominant patriarchy, Lisa tries to uphold traditions in the face of a harsh financial reality.”
He said the film was made with the support of the British Council as a skills exchange program that brought together seasoned British film makers; Jack Woodcraft and Nick Macq together with Zimbabweans in an effort to produce a Zimbabwean prototype for entertaining yet socially conscious films made on micro budgets, a model that has seen the rise of Nollywood into a sustainable industry.
The cast also includes Munya Chidzonga, the late Pretty Xaba, Michael Kudakwashe, Memory Bisusu, Lovewell Chisango and Charles Muzembi.
